Laporte

LAPORTE -- The city has a new schools superintendent. Blade Montgomery was chosen Saturday in a unanimous vote during a special school board meeting. Montgomery is associate superintendent in the Lafayette School Corp., where he began as a teacher nearly 30 years ago.

LaPorte high gymnast Abigale Light has been named first-team All-State by the Indiana Coaches of Girls Sports Association. Light finished 12th in the All-Around competition at the IHSAA State Championships March 19.

LAPORTE — The LaPorte Ministerial Association invites everyone to join in the annual Good Friday Cross Walk on April 22 that will begin at noon at the First United Methodist Church. The walk will go to seven churches/chapels in the downtown LaPorte area. Walkers will stop at each church for prayer and reflection on one of the seven Last Words of Christ. The walk will conclude at St. Paul Episcopal Church. The walk will include First Christian Church, St. Paul United Church of Christ, Hospital Chapel, New Church Swedenborgian and St. Mary of the Angels.

LAPORTE -- A benefit is scheduled to assist a LaPorte man still on a ventilator after he contracted West Nile virus. According to family members, 65-year-old Ronald Lawson is improving but remains on a breathing machine at an area hospital. Lawson, a retired factory worker, contracted the virus in early August. Saturday's benefit from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. features a garage sale, bake sale and a spaghetti dinner along with elephant ears and fudge for sale at First Apostolic United Pentecostal Church, 1930 Boyd Blvd.

Approximately 1,375 backbacks with school supplies will be distributed Aug. 17 to students at four elementary schools in LaPorte -- Hailmann Elementary School, Handley Elementary School, Indian Trail Elementary School and Lincoln Elementary School. The Kids In Need Foundation, a national, non-profit organization dedicated to providing free school supplies to economically disadvantaged school children and under-funded teachers, received a grant from American Licorice Company, one of the nation's oldest confectionary manufacturers to use to purchase, ship and distribute the backpacks.

LAPORTE -- The city of LaPorte is looking into the possibility of legalizing the use of golf carts on city streets. Citing safety concerns, the City Council on Monday night decided to send the ordinance to the traffic commission for possible revision. Under the measure, golf carts could be driven only on city streets and alleys from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. from April 1 through Nov. 1. Golf carts would have to be equipped with working headlights and taillights. No child younger than age 2 could ride in the golf cart, and children older than 2 would have to be properly restrained.

The mayor's race in LaPorte is contested May 3 for both the Republican and Democratic nominations. Democrats Incumbent Kathy Chroback, 58, a lifelong resident of LaPorte, is challenged by Ron Zimmer, 62, who came here six years ago from the Chicago area. Chroback said she'll wait until sometime after the primary to offer specific proposals on what she wants to accomplish if elected to another term. Chroback said her leadership skills were proven by guiding the city through one of its toughest financial periods in history.

LAPORTE -- City officials are giving serious thought to a ban on smoking in the city's parks. The city council Monday night voted to send a measure calling for a total ban on all park department land to a committee for review and a possible vote at the July 1 council meeting. Council member Ron McAtee said some people think that having designated areas in the parks to smoke is fairer than a complete ban. "We have a lot of adults who do smoke and they may not want to be banned," McAtee said.

LAPORTE -- The city of LaPorte is imposing a slight property tax increase to help pay for things such as fixing streets. The increase approved Monday night by the City Council would mean about an $8 increase in the average homeowner's property tax bill, officials said. Council member Ron McAtee said that up to $100,000 per year will be generated annually for capital improvements such as streets. "There are so many roads and other things that we need to have done; this will at least throw a little bit of money in the coffers," McAtee said.

LaPorte's Elena Lancioni was named the Duneland Conference Most Valuable Runner. Lancioni was named all-conference in the 1,600- and 3,200-meter runs. LaPorte's Anthony Didion was named all-conference in the 1,600-meter run. He finished eighth at the state meet.

LAPORTE - IU Health LaPorte Hospital will offer a community-based first aid/CPR and AED course for adults, children and infants from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. CST Saturday and Aug. 10 at 1100 Lincolnway, across from the hospital. The cost is $65. Registration and information: 219-326-2322.

LAPORTE -- A LaPorte man who previously spent time in prison for fatally shooting his wife is back in jail accused of slaying his present wife. Joseph Jemiolo, 60, is being held in the LaPorte County Jail on suspicion of murder. LaPorte County Prosecutor Bob Szilagyi said police were still gathering evidence and doing other preparations in the case so charges could be sought before a judge possibly in the next day or so. According to police, officers responding to a burglary in progress call about 12:30 a.m. apprehended Jemiolo coming out of his home in the 800 block of E Street.

LAPORTE -- The county will take a back seat on the route Enbridge Energy wants to use for its new crude oil pipeline through the Hudson Lake area. In March, the Saves the Dunes Council and Hoosier Environmental Council asked the LaPorte County commissioners to enforce local zoning laws to restrict where the stretch of pipeline goes in Hudson Township. Opponents are against the route preferred by Enbridge Energy to extend the pipeline beside an existing smaller pipeline through the northern part of Hudson Township.

LAPORTE -- Four hundred or more antique vehicles again will be rumbling through the heart of LaPorte's business district, attracting thousands of people from a wide area. The ninth annual Cruise Night on Saturday also means dollars and cents for LaPorte businesses. At Western Inn, for example, owner Larry Rose said the event has become the busiest day of the year with upward of 250 people seated or standing outside his restaurant along "J" Street, eating and drinking with antique and classic vehicles rumbling by. "It's a great event," Rose said.

Gusty winds forced racing boats off the water during Saturday's time trials for the inaugural Maple City Grand Prix in LaPorte. The time trials resumed when the choppy conditions that made racing dangerous eased somewhat much to the delight of the several thousand people in attendance at Stone Lake in LaPorte. Many of the spectators had never before seen tunnel boats, which can go from 0 to 100 miles per hour in five seconds with the ability to take turns at speeds almost as fast.

LaPorte (316) edged Michigan City by one stroke to win the high school golf sectional at Beechwood. Michigan City Marquette Catholic placed third with a 339 to earn a regional berth. Michigan City's Ryan Brinckman earned medalist honors with a 74, topping Austin Wells of LaPorte and Jack Clancy of Michigan City Marquette by one stroke. New Prairie's Collin Kowalski (79), Jacob Chadderdon (86) and Mitchell Newport (88) advance to the regional as individuals. TEAM SCORES (top three teams advance to regional)

LAPORTE -- City officials are not sure what kind of turnout to expect, but plans are being made to accommodate as many as 20,000 people for the first Maple City Grand Prix on Stone Lake. "There's a big buzz going around the city," said Rick Wright, convention and leisure sales manager for the LaPorte County Convention & Visitors Bureau. Three days of tunnel boats practicing and racing as fast as 120 mph on Stone Lake begins Friday. The U.S. Formula 1 Powerboat/Formula 1 PROP Tour has added LaPorte to its schedule of about eight races this year.